The Irish standard., 1887-02-26
TYNAN'S ABLE LECTURE.
The Lecturer Accurately Describes the
Governmental Construction Of
The British Empire.
THE GLADSTONE BILL DEFECTIVE,
Home Rule for ireland Means an Exactly
Similar Government to that Now
Enjoyed by Canada,

~~H
the Music Hall, Providence: r. !. Sey-
eral of the leading citizens of Proy-
idence and vicinity were on the plat
form. Among the gentlemen who
formed the committee were the follow
ing: Hon George j. West, chairman,
Hon. Hugh J. Carroll. James Mulllgan,
Thomas Grimes, Dr. Kelly, DR.. O'Keefe,
j. Nerone, Capt. John Revens, James
Corcoran, Wru. Burke, Dennis O Reilly.
Alexander McCauyhen, John Casey,
Col. John McManus, Maj. McGuinnes,
James Black, J. L.. Cannon. &. Nc
Lurnan, T.. H. Mccormick.
The speaker was introduced by the
chairman, Hon. George j. West, in q.
forcible and eloquent speech on the
present aspect of the Irish question.
Mr., Tynan's appearance WAS greeted
with repeated applause. 1t was very
evident that he had the full sympathy
Of his audience. The following is a
summary Of the principal points:
The struggle between the British and
the irish peoples is that between two
distinct aud antagonistic nationalities,
one to destroy and the the other to pre-
serve distinct and separate existence.
Otherwise the Irish Parliamentary
party would have no basis for their de
mand for all Irish National Parliament.
The Britt h contention is that we are
one people, aud that we are but a pro
vince of tllat which they designate the
British Empire Now the British En-
pire so-ca}led is not homogeneous
body. It is composed Of crown colonies,
and virtually self governing dependen-
cies. We find III IIindoostan o popula~
tion Of two hundred million people
ruled by despotlsrn called the Indian
Government, which consists OF tue
Govarnor-General, appointed by the
British Grown, and whatever British
officials he wishes to include in his
council. This small group Of men gov
ern this vast dependency independently
of party politics. In the latter WE find
the Dominion Of Canada and the differ
ent governments of Australia virtually
independents Of the British people.
Nothing can illustrate more folcibly
how loose the connection IS between
them ard the so-called mother country,
when the Byitish people could not pos
sibly appoirt Il policeman by virtue Of
any authority they holo over those SO
called portions of the British Empire
These people, it is true, fly the British
flag, but that aud their supposed loyal
ty to the British Grown axe the. only
facts which constitute their parts Of the
British Empire: They have their own
Parlianlents, freely elected by the peo-
ple. aud from their Parliament springs
& ministry as independent in the man
aeeuentof their affairs as the Imperial
Cabinet that sits in Downing street.
With the exception Of the Government
Of Victoria they all levy protective du-
ties on goods coming into their ports,
exactly the same as q foreign nation.
Their governments have the complete
control Of Jheir finances, their militia.
ana what appears to be an incipient CO.
lonia. navy. The people OF the United
States must be somewhat familiar With
the course OF the so-called Canadian
cruisers in the fisheries question, and
we also read OF the establishment Of an
Australian navy to protect the Austria
liam interests in the South Pacific. In
the face Of these facts, it is absurd to
call their Parliament all Imperial Par
lament.
There is not single Representative
sitting in that Parliament from any por-
tion of the British Empire outside OF
the British islands. They make no laws
for any nation but Britain, with the
exception OF that neighboring nation
which they are anxious to crush out Of
national existence. The Irish people !
when they speak of Home Rule,
mean an exactly similar government to
that now enjoyed by Canada and the
Australias: the absolute control OF their
trade, navigation, and commerce, the
same power to legislate for Ireland as
Canada and Australia now enjoy, with
an executive government spriuging
from their Parliament, and also the
absolute control Of the finance Of the
country.
Now, Mr. Gladstone's bill would Sc
cure no benefit whatever to the Irish
people. It withholds from the Irish
Parliament, which he would establish
in Dublin, the right to make any laws
whatever for the land, so that evictions
would still continue, while this as
sembly Of Irish gentlemen insultingly